Shock absorber



Aug. 18, i933. E F. RossMAN 1,819,523

. SHOCK ABSORBER Filed Dec. 26. 1929 3o .aa l ,27

34 35 55 a4 59 39 s2 3e 36 ,37 37 `3e $6/ /2 I I 7%! 67, @6 N 56 .W Y j 5o \57 d 6/ l E U 2n 65 -52 me/nto@ Dw//y Ross/ww,

'Patented Aug. is, i931 f UNITED s'ra'riss'4 seremos ro manco rnonuc'rs comona'rioir oonrona'rxon oir nmwami nnwm 1r. nessun?, or Danois, omo,

or nanou, 0310.1

PATENT ori-ice f 8306K ABSORBEB sppiimion sied :immer se. im. serial no. .41am

caused by the uncontrolled movement of the vehicle springs,\wil1 le nated. A further object of the invention is to provide the shock absorber with a luidpre'ssure release device of simple structure an design, adapted to establishrestricted flows of fluid te through certain portions .of the shock absorber in two directions. Further objects and advantages of the resent invention will'be apparent from the ollowing description, i@ to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of one form ofthe present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

be substantially elimi- Fig. r1 illustrates( a fragmentary side view 35 of a vehicle chassis equipped with a shock absorber including the im roved device. The vehicle Wheels sup rte upon the axle are omitted for the sa e of clearness. n

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken w through the center of the ook absorber.

Fig. 3 is a plan view, o the disc valve of the ressure release device. i Fig. 4 is a similar view of another valve of the pressure release device.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral designates the frame of the vehicle upon which the body (not shown) .is carried.

Frame 2O is supported u on the axle 21 by vehicle springs 22, whic are hingedly secured to the frame in any suitable manner.

The shock absorber comprises a casing 23 having apertures 24 for receiving bolts or studs b to the aine 20. The shock `absorber casing 23 presents a Huid reservoir 25 and a cylinder 26. The ends of the cylinder 26 are provide with screwvplugs 2,7, properly gasketed,

whereby the cyli `der ends are closed. .Within thercylinder there is provided a fluid dis- 50 placement member 28, lhaving head portions of the cylinder, w

Asages 34- At the outer or oppositeends of reference.' being had provided by which the shock absorber ris secured at its opposite ends providingpistonfheads 29 and 30 respectively.v The pistoxil head 29 forms Va compression chamber 31 at its end ile piston head 30. foi'rnsa. com ression chamber 32 at its respective end of t e cylinder. The piston head portions '29 and 3() are joinedv by an intermediate web portion "33. Each piston head portion 29 and3() is provided with a through passage 34. The adjacent ends of the through passages 34 of the piston head portions 29 and receive wear pieces 35, each having a shaik portion extending into' thel respective the respective passages 34, screw threads are provided, each being adapted'to `receive a valve ca e 36, each having a valve seat for' a `ball chec valve 37 yieldablyurged into en gagementwith the seat by the spring 38 provi ed in the cage. In each passage 34 a spring 39 is interposed between t e respective valve cage A36 and the res ectivewear piece 35. R These springs yielda ly urge the respective .wear pieces 'into engagement with the free end of the rocker lever 40, thus compensatinghor any wear of either the rocker lever or wear`pieces. p vThe `rocker lever is secured to a rockersliaft -41, properly journalled in `beaiin the casing 23. The rocke` sha 41`has its one end extending outside of the casing and having the shock absorber operatin arm 42 prov ided thereon, the free end o which operating lever is swivelly se cured to the link rod 43. The other end of the link rod is swiyell'y secured'to a member 44 which is anchored to the axle 421 by a clamping device 45. n

From the aoregoing it may be seen that the duid displacement member 28 is operatively connected with the axle 21 through the rocker arnr 40, shaft 41, shock absorber operating arm 42 and the linkl rod 43. It

will also be observed that asthe s rings 22' are exed upwardly toward the rame 20,

d the shaft 42 will be rotated in a clockwise direction, causing the iuid displacement member 28 to vimove toward the left as 'regards Fig.- 2, while in response to rebounding movements of springs 22 that is, move 1N the valve seat 58.

ments of the springs 22 away from the frame 20, a counter-clockwise rotation of the shaft 41 obtains, resulting in a movement of the fluid displacement member 28 toward the ri ht as regards Fig. 2.

he valves, including the ball check vvalves 37 in the respective piston head portions 29A and 30, act as replenishing valves to compensate for any fluid loss within the compression chambers, these valves functioning to establish fluid Hows when their respective piston head portions move away from their respective cylinder ends.

In the casing 23 there is provided a valve chamber 50, the outer open end of which is screw-threaded for receiving a plug 51. Plug' 51 is provided with a recess 52, forming a cylindrical portion 53 on the plug which extends into the valve chamber 50. Within the recess 52 and adjacent the bottom thereof, therev is provided an annular ridge or ledge 54, forming an annular valve seat within said recess. A lateral opening 55, provided in the cylindrical portion 53 of the plug, communicates with a duct 56 which opens into the compression chamber 31. A

similar duct 57 leads from the inner end ofto the compression the valve chamber chamber 32. The inner end of the cylindrical extension 53 provides a valve seat designated by the numeral 58.

A Huid pressure release device is provided within the valve chamber 50, this fluid release device including three valves. 'One of these valves comprises a tubular member 59 having a head member 60 attached to its one end in any suitable manner, said head member being adapted, as shown in Fig. 2, to engage with the Avalve seat provided by the annular the plug 51.

Another valve of the fluid pressure release device is the disc valve 61, a flat view of which is shown in the Fig. 3. This valve is slidabl supported upon the tubular portion 59 o the irst mentioned valve, as shown in the Fig.

valve also being slidably-supported wuponthe tubular/member 59 of the first mentioned valve and being adapted to engage the disc' valve llnormally to close the aperture 62 therein. It will be seen that the valve-63 engages the side of the valve 61 opposite On this side of the disc valve 61 an annular ledge. 64'is provided which forms the valve seat for the valve 63.

A coil spring 65"surrounds the tubular pormovement, link ro ledge 54 within the recess 52 of 2. Disc valve 6 1 is adaptedlto engage the valve seat 58' provided by the `end tion 59 of the one valve, one end of said spring engaging with the disc valve 61, the other env der 67 provided in the valve chamber 50, said spring urging the disc valve 61 against its valve seat 58. From this it may be seen that the spring 65 being of lesser tension than the spring 66 will naturally urge the valve head 60 into engagement with its valve seat 54. It will also be noted that a chamber 6 8 is provided in the recess of the plug 51 beneath the valve head 60, or more specifically between the outer surface of the valve head 60 and the bottom surface of the recess 52 in the plug 51. The numeral 69 designates a third spring of the fluid pressure release device, this spring being interposed between washers 70 supported on the end of the tubular member 59 and the v alve 63, said spring' 69 yieldably urging the valve 63 into engagement with its valve seat 64 provided on the disc valve 61. In the Fig. 4 an end view of the tubular valve comprising members 59 and 60 is shown. Both valves 60 and .61 are provided with recesses about their peripheral edge, the tangs tween said recesses acting tol guide the valves along the inner walls o'f the chamber within which they are contained, the recesses providing suitable fluid passages between the valves and said walls when said valvesv are moved by pressure to establish fluid flows.

The device functions as follows:

When the road wheels (not shown) strike an obstruction, springs 22 are exed toward the frame 20 and `lpon this their compression being connected to the axle 21 and the axle in turn with the springs 22 so that the Huid displacement member 28 will be moved toward the left'as regards Fig.' 2. Fluid with- .in the compression chamber 31 will be forced through the duct 56 and lateral passage 55 in plug 51 into the recess 52 of said plug, this pressure being exerted upon the inner surface of valve 60 and thus u ryging said valve into tighter engagement with its valve seat 54. If this pressure is of comparatively small value or conned within certain limits, it will alone move the valve 63 against the eHect of spring 69 to establish a llow of fluid from the recess 52 through the apertures 62 in the disc valve 61 and thence through the valve chamber 50 into the duct 57 and the compression chamber 32. If on the other hand the fluid pressure is of a greater value or is excessively high, then disc valve 61 will also be moved from its, seat, whereby `a uid flow is established from the recess 52 between the valve seat 58 and valve 61 and then into the valve' chamber 50, through duct 57 into the comression chamber 32. Both of these flows will be restricted and consequently compression movement of the spring 22 toward the frame 43 will be moved due to its I at y 20 will-be resisted, thereby cushioning shocks caused by the striking of the obstruction.

As soon as the springs 22 have reached .the limit of their iexure caused by the obstruction being met, they will have a tendency to return to unfiexed position with a sudden, rebounding movement if not properly checked or controlled'. The resent device prevents the return of the springs 22 with a rebounding movement. As the springs 22 begin to move toward their normal position, the link rod 43 will cause the fluid displacement member 28 to be /moved toward the right as `regards Fig. 2, and thus pressure will be exerted upon the fluid within the compression chamber 32,`whichpressure is exerted through the duct 57 into the valve chamber 50. Valves 63 and 6i now having pressure exerted upon the side with which their lsprings engage, will be moved more tightlyfupon their valve seats. Pressure will also b e exerted upon theinner end of the tubular member 59 which' forces said member toward the valye seat 54. However, ypressure will also be exerted through the tubular member 59 into the cham- `ber 68 and against the outer surface of the tubular member 59" and the valve head 60.-

The differential in pressure exerted against both ends of the tubular valve will cause this tubular valve to movevaway roin the valve seat 454 against the effect of its spring 65 and thus there will e established a liuid flow from the duct 57 thro gh the tubular portion 59 of the 'tubular valveinto the chamber 68 and S5 thence through the space provided between theA valve seat 54 and the valve headsGO into the recess 52 and thence through opening 55 vand duct 56 into the compression chamber 31. Applicant has provided a shock absorber with a Huid pressure'release device of simple structure and design, capable of being produced commercially at a minimum expenditure omaterial and labor, said lease device being easily accessible forithe -substituton of springs. It may readily be .understood that the substitution of lighter s rin liPsh uid lHows at lighter pressures and thus not be as edective to resist spring movements as when heaviersprings are provided. l,

While the form-of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form itis to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming withiii the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows: V l. A shock absorber comprisin in combination, a casing presenting a 4fluid reservoir and a'cylinder; a piston in the cylinder form- 30 ing a compression chamber at eachend thereof; a valvehamber; separate ducts connecting the res ctive compression chambers with the valve chi/amber; and a compound 'pressure release device within the valve chamber `adapted to establish restricted'iows of fluid -of said valves being supported by others.`

. of; a valve-chamber; separate ducts connecting the respective compression cbamb'ersgvith iiuidopposite to that of said supporting valve the valve chamber; and 'a com ound pres sure`release device within the va ve chamber adapted to establishrestricted flows of fluid from one or the other compression chambers into the one at the opposite end of the cylinder, said device comprising spring loaded valvesall operating inthe saine direction to establish their respective liuid Hows, the one valve, adaptedvto establish a flow between the compression chambers in the one' direction, supporting the valves adapted to establish the fiow between the compression chambers inthe o posite direction.k

3. A sliock absorber comprising incombination, a casing presenting a :Huid reservoir and a cylinder; a piston in the cylinder forming a compression chamber at each end thereof; a valve chamber; separate ducts connecting the respective compression chambers with the valve chamber; anda compound ressure release device within the valve cham r said device comprising a plurality of valve members all adapted to o erate in thesame directoin to establish fluid flows between the compression chambers in o posite directions, thev one valve memberv sli ably supporting the valve members adapted to establish flows of member, and springs yieldably iirging said valve members into normally closed positions.

pressure res will cause the shock absorber to estab- 4. A shock absorber comprising in combination, a casing'presenting a duid reservoir and a cylinder; a piston in the cylinder forming a compression chamber at each end thereof; a valve chamber; separate ducts connecting the respective compressioiichambers with the valve chamber; and a compound ressure release device within the valve cham r, Said 1115y device comprising a. plurality of valve mem-' bers all adapted to operate in the same direc-i tion\to establish iuid flows -between the comf pression. chambers in o posite directions, the, one valve member slid 5. A shock absorber comprisi in. combination, a lcasing presenting a uidreservoir )l0 iid ably-supporting the 12o valve members adapted to establish flows of .opposite direction.

and a cylinder; a piston in the cylinder forming a compression chamber at each end thereof a valve chamber; separate ducts connecting the respective, compression chambers with the valve chamber; and a compound pressure release device within the valve chamber, said device comprising a plurality of valve members all adapted to operate in the same direction to establish fluid iows be valve slidably supported on said valve, the

spring urging the said slidably sup orted valve into closing position, being of sustantially greater tension than the spring interposed between the valves.

6. A shock absorber comprising in combination, a casing presenting a iuid reservoir and a cylinder; a piston in said cylindei., forming a compression chamber' at each end thereof; a valve chamber.; separate ducts connecting the respective compression chambers with' the valve chamber; a pressure release device within said valve chamber adapted, in response to proper fluid pressures in one o r the other compression chamber, to establish a iiow of fluid through said ducts in one or the other direction respectively, said device comprising a plurality of spring loaded valves, one of which is adapted to establish a flow of fluid through said ducts in the one direction, the others, supported bysaid valve being adapted successivel to estaba (il.

lish ows of luidthrough said cts in the 7. A shock absorber -comprisin in combination, a casing presenting a uid reser- Voir and a cylinder; a piston in the cylinder forming a compression chamber at each end thereof; a valve chamber in the casing; a duct leading from one compression chamber into one end of the valve chamber; a duct leading from the other compression chamber into the `opposite end of the valve chamber; and a compound pressure release device within the valve chamber adapted, in response to proper fluid ressure to establish restricted flows of fluid etween the two compression chambers, said device comprising a tubular valve adapted to establish a ilow of -iuid between the compression chambers in one direction, and a plurality of valve members carried by the tubular valve to establish flows of fluid between said chambers in the opposite direction.

8. A shock, absorber comprising in combination, a casing presenting a fluid reservoir and a cylinder; a piston in the cylinder forming a compression chamber at each 'end thereof; a valve chamber in the casing a duct leading from one compression cham r into one end of the valve chamber; a duct leading from the other compression' chamber into the opposite end of the valve chamber; and a compound pressure release device within the valve chamber adapted, in response to proper Huid pressure to establish restricted {iows of fluid between the two compression chambers, s aid device comprising a'tubular valve adapted in response to differential pressures at its opposite ends, to establish a flow of fluid between the compression chambers in the one direction, and valves slidably supported upon said tubular valve, said valves cooperating, successively toP establish restricted flows of Huid between the said chambersin the opposite direction.

. 9. A shock absorber'comprisiner in combination a casing presentin a liui reservoir and a cylinder va piston in t e cylinder forming a compression chamber at each end thereof; a valve chamber; vra recessed plug` in/thc endof the valve chamber, providmgtwo annular valve seats the plug having a lateral opening intermediate the valve seats ;l a valve adapted to engage one of said valve seats, said valve having a tubular stem; a disc-valve .slidably carried b the tubular stem 'of the 10. A shock absorber comprising. in combination, a casing presentin a uld reservoir and a cylinder; a piston 1n said cylinder forming a compression chamber at each end thereof; a valve chamber in the casing' a duct connecting one compressionA cham r' with the inner end of the valve chamber; another duct connectingthe other compression chamber with the valve chamber adjacent its outer open end; -a plughaving a recess pro,

vidin a cylindrical portion adapted to iit into-t e open end'of 'the valve chamber, said cylindrical portion having a lateral openin in communication with the last mentione duct; an annular ledge within the recess of the plug, providing a valve-seat; a valve-seat formed by the end of said cylindrical portion of the plug; a`valve co risin a tubular body having a flan e atits end orming the head of the valve w ich is adapted to engage the valve-seat within the recess; a disc-valve slidably'supported on the tubular portion of the aforementioned valve and adapted to enlll ge the valve-seat provided by the end` of the plug, said disc-valve havin apertures ebent the tubular support and wit in the conines of its seat; a second valve slidably earred by seid tubular portion and adapted to engage the dise valve to close its apertures; a sprmg interposed between the head portion on the tubular valve and the dise valve, yieldnbly urging said head portion into seatin en- #u ent with the annular ledge in the p ug; a spring of greater tension than the aforementioned spring urgin the dise valve into engagement with the en of the plug; and a sprin of less tension than the a orementiene springs urging the second valve on the tubular portion into engagement with the dise valve.

In testimony whereof I hereto ax my signature.

EDWIN F. ROSSMAN. 

